A sulfur dioxide-containing exhaust gas is scrubbed by contact with an aqueous solution containing an alkali salt of an organic acid to dissolve sulfur dioxide in the aqueous solution in the form of alkali sulfite. The alkali sulfite in the solution is converted by oxidation into alkali sulfate, which is contacted for reaction with a calcium compound to form calcium sulfate. The calcium sulfate so formed is separated by filtration from the aqueous solution for recovery while the filtrate is recycled for use as the aqueous solution for scrubbing the exhaust gas. The concentration of alkali sulfite in the scrubbing aqueous solution is maintained at a level of less than 1% to ensure efficient removal of sulfur dioxide from the exhaust gas in the form of calcium sulfate.